IND vs SL 2nd Test Day 3: Team India has strengthened its hold very much in the second test match being played between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo. By the tea break on the third day, Sri Lanka had scored 216 runs after losing 7 wickets in 65 overs in the first innings. The host team is still 287 runs behind India's first innings score of 503 runs. In such a situation, the competition appears to be completely under India's control.
The Indian team declared its first innings on the score of 503/9. Dhruv Jurel played a brilliant inning of 115 not out, while Devdutt Padikkal scored 117 runs. Rishabh Pant contributed 63 runs and captain Shubhman Gill contributed 50 runs. In response to India's big score, Sri Lanka's batting once again looked under pressure.
Indian bowlers dominate Sri Lankan innings
Sri Lanka did not have a good start. The Indian bowlers kept the host team under pressure by taking wickets at regular intervals. After the second session on the third day, Sri Lanka has scored 202 runs after losing 7 wickets in 57 overs.
Pasindu Sooriyabandara tried to take control of Sri Lanka's innings by playing an inning of 80 runs in 133 balls. Apart from him, Kamindu Mendis scored 32 runs. Sonal Dinusha (52) and Keshara Nuwantha (13) are also struggling, but the Sri Lankan batting continued to face difficulties in front of the Indian bowlers.
Prasidh Krishna has been the most successful bowler for India and has taken 3 wickets. Manav Suthar took 2 wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj also got one wicket each.
Sri Lanka 287 runs behind, option to follow on
Sri Lanka is currently 287 runs behind India. In such a situation, the Indian team will also have the option of giving follow-on in future. However, captain Shubman Gill and the team management will take a decision as per the circumstances.
In India's first innings, Jurel batted brilliantly under pressure and completed his second Test century. He played an unbeaten inning of 115 runs. Padikkal scored 117 runs, scoring a century for the second consecutive test. Whereas Pant played a quick inning of 63 runs and made an important contribution in taking the team to a big score.
India will get advantage in WTC points table
This match is not only important for India in terms of winning the series, but is also very important in terms of the points table of the World Test Championship 2025-27.
In the first Test played in Galle, India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs. After that win, India had 64 points and 53.33 percent PCT in its account, but the team remained at fifth position. At that time Bangladesh was ranked fourth above India with 66.67 PCT.
Now victory in the Colombo Test can take India straight to the fourth position. According to the current equation, India's PCT will be around 57.58 percent if it wins the second Test against Sri Lanka. After which India can overtake Bangladesh.
That means a 2-0 series win against Sri Lanka can take India from fifth to fourth place in the WTC table. This will be a significant lead for Team India in the points table.
Sri Lanka's condition is bad, India eyes clean sweep
India is already leading 1-0 in the two-match series. After the 165-run victory in the first Test, now Team India is eyeing to win the match in Colombo and win the series 2-0.
On the second day, India took two early Sri Lankan wickets after declaring the innings at 503/9. On the third day, the Indian bowlers increased the pressure and Sri Lankan wickets kept falling.
Now the biggest challenge before Sri Lanka is to avoid an innings defeat, while India has a chance to finish the match early and strengthen their position in the WTC points table. The remaining games on the third day and the performance of the Indian bowlers on the fourth day will decide the direction of the contest.